Counties 4 Yorkshire


Counties 4 Yorkshire is an English rugby union league at the tenth tier of the domestic competition for teams from Yorkshire. Club rugby in Yorkshire operates without promotion play-offs meaning that the top two teams are automatically promoted to Yorkshire 3 and the bottom two teams were relegated to Yorkshire 5 until the RFU made changes to the Yorkshire league structure. Each season a team from Counties 3 Yorkshire or Yorkshire 4 may be picked to take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a national competition for clubs at levels 9-12.
For the 2017-18 season, Yorkshire 4 was broken up into two regional leagues - Yorkshire 4 (North West) and Yorkshire 4 (South East) - while Yorkshire 5 ceased to exist. Teams from both Yorkshire 4 and 5 were transferred into the regional divisions depending on location. After the teams have played each other home and away, in February the clubs are reallocated into a Premier league and a Shield league for one further round of fixtures. The top four teams from each league play in the Premier and the other teams play in the Shield. The top two teams in the Premier league are promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire.

Participating clubs 2025-26

North division

Departing were Hornsea, promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire as champions.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AireboroughNunroyd ParkYeadon, West Yorkshire8th
KnaresboroughHay-A-Park LaneKnaresborough, North Yorkshire4th
Leeds Medics & DentistsWeetwood Playing FieldsWeetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire5th
Leeds ModerniansCookridge LaneCookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire6th
Nestle RowntreeMille CruxYork, North Yorkshire2nd
RichmondshireTheakston LaneRichmond, North Yorkshire7th
ThirskNewsham RoadThirsk, North YorkshireRelegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire
York Railway InstituteNew LaneYork, North Yorkshire3rd

South division

Departing were Dearne Valley promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
HallamshireNorthfield RoadSheffield, South YorkshireNew entry
HessleLivingstone RoadHessle, East Riding of Yorkshire5th
KnottingleyHoward's FieldKnottingley, West Yorkshire7th
MaltbyMuglet LaneMaltby, South Yorkshire3rd
Sheffield MedicalsNorton Playing FieldsNorton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire2nd
StocksbridgeCoal Pit LaneStocksbridge, South Yorkshire4th
WithernseaHollymWithernsea, East Riding of YorkshireNew entry
WortleyFinkle Street LaneWortley, South Yorkshire6th

Participating clubs 2024-25

For the new season the league was once more split into North / South division as it had been most recently in season 2021-22. Three new teams, all from South Yorkshire, were added to the South league to make a total of seven, with eight competing in the North division.
Departing were Old Otliensians and Thornensians, promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire as champions and runners-up respectively
Hornsea won the league on the final day of the season and doing so got promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire for the 25/26 season.

North division

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AireboroughNunroyd ParkYeadon, West Yorkshire5th
HornseaHollis Recreation GroundHornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire3rd
KnaresboroughHay-A-Park LaneKnaresborough, North Yorkshire13th
Leeds Medics & DentistsWeetwood Playing FieldsWeetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire7th
Leeds ModerniansCookridge LaneCookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire9th
Nestle RowntreeMille CruxYork, North Yorkshire4th
RichmondshireTheakston LaneRichmond, North Yorkshire11th
York Railway InstituteNew LaneYork, North Yorkshire10th

South division

Dearne Valley won the south division and join the Northern division winners Hornsea in Counties 3 Yorkshire for the 25/26 season
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Dearne ValleyVancouver DriveBolton upon Dearne, South YorkshireNew entry
HessleLivingstone RoadHessle, East Riding of Yorkshire6th
KnottingleyHoward's FieldKnottingley, West Yorkshire8th
MaltbyMuglet LaneMaltby, South YorkshireNew entry
Sheffield MedicalsNorton Playing FieldsNorton, Sheffield, South YorkshireRelegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire
StocksbridgeCoal Pit LaneStocksbridge, South Yorkshire12th
WortleyFinkle Street LaneWortley, South YorkshireNew entry

Participating clubs 2023-24

Departing were Mosborough who moved on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands East (North). Joining were three sides relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire together with Richmondshire who re-entered the Yorkshire Rugby leagues having most recently competed in Durham/Northumberland 3 for season 2021-22 during which they withdrew in January 2022.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AireboroughNunroyd ParkYeadon, West Yorkshire6th
HessleLivingstone RoadHessle, East Riding of Yorkshire10th
HornseaHollis Recreation GroundHornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire5th
KnaresboroughHay-A-Park LaneKnaresborough, North Yorkshire12th
KnottingleyHoward's FieldKnottingley, West YorkshireRelegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire
Leeds Medics & DentistsWeetwood Playing FieldsWeetwood, Leeds, West YorkshireRelegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire
Leeds ModerniansCookridge LaneCookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire11th
Nestle RowntreeMille CruxYork, North Yorkshire8th
Old OtliensiansChaffers FieldOtley, West Yorkshire3rd
RichmondshireTheakston LaneRichmond, North YorkshireRe-entry
StocksbridgeCoal Pit LaneStocksbridge, South Yorkshire7th
ThornensiansCoulman RoadThorne, South YorkshireRelegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire
York Railway InstituteNew LaneYork, North Yorkshire9th

Participating clubs 2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Yorkshire 4 albeit consolidated back into one having previously been split NW and SE. Eleven of the teams from season 2021-22 returned with two promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire and two withdrawing from the leagues. So with four departing but only one arriving the league was reduced from 15 teams to 12.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AireboroughNunroyd ParkYeadon, West Yorkshire7th
HessleLivingstone RoadHessle, East Riding of Yorkshire5th
HornseaHollis Recreation GroundHornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire2nd / 7th
HalifaxOvenden ParkHalifax, West Yorkshire6th
KnaresboroughHay-A-Park LaneKnaresborough, North Yorkshire8th
Leeds ModerniansCookridge LaneCookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire5th
MosboroughMosborough Miners Welfare ClubMosborough, Sheffield, South Yorkshire3rd / 6th
Nestle RowntreeMille CruxYork, North Yorkshire3rd Yorks 4 NW / 3rd
Old OtliensiansChaffers FieldOtley, West Yorkshire14th Yorkshire 3
Rotherham PhoenixHerringthorpe Playing FieldsClifton, Rotherham, South Yorkshire 1st
StocksbridgeCoal Pit LaneStocksbridge, South Yorkshire4th / 8th
York Railway InstituteNew LaneYork, North Yorkshire4th / 5th

Participating clubs 2021-22

The teams competing in 2021-22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019-20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020-21.

North West division

York RI and Nestle Rowntree were level transferred from Yorkshire 4 South East for the current season.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AireboroughNunroyd ParkYeadon, West Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 3
Leeds Medics & DentistsWeetwood Playing FieldsWeetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire5th / 1st
Leeds ModerniansCookridge LaneCookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire3rd / 6th
HalifaxOvenden ParkHalifax, West Yorkshire4th / 8th
KnaresboroughHay-A-Park LaneKnaresborough, North Yorkshire7th / 6th
Nestle RowntreeMille CruxYork, North Yorkshire5th / 2nd
ThirskThirsk Athletic ClubThirsk, North Yorkshire6th / 4th
York Railway InstituteNew LaneYork, North Yorkshire2nd / 3rd

South East division

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
HessleLivingstone RoadHessle, East Riding of Yorkshire6th / 3rd
HornseaHollis Recreation GroundHornsea, East Riding of YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire RFU Eastern League 1
MosboroughMosborough Miners Welfare ClubMosborough, Sheffield, South Yorkshire1st / 4th
Rotherham PhoenixHerringthorpe Playing FieldsClifton, Rotherham, South Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 3
Sheffield OaksParson Cross ParkParson Cross, Sheffield, South Yorkshire7th / 5th
Stanley RodilliansManley ParkStanley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire4th / 5th
StocksbridgeCoal Pit LaneStocksbridge, South Yorkshire3rd / 7th

Season 2020–21

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 season meaning Yorkshire 4 was not contested.

Participating clubs 2019-20

North West division

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bramley PhoenixGrosmont TerraceBramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire6th
BurleyAbbeyHawksworth, Leeds, West Yorkshire1st
Leeds Medics & DentistsWeetwood Playing FieldsWeetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire8th
Leeds ModerniansCookridge LaneCookridge, Leeds, West YorkshireRelegated from Yorkshire 3
HalifaxOvenden ParkHalifax, West Yorkshire4th
KnaresboroughHay-A-Park LaneKnaresborough, North Yorkshire7th
ThirskThirsk Athletic ClubThirsk, North Yorkshire3rd

South East division

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
HessleLivingstone RoadHessle, East Riding of Yorkshire4th
MosboroughMosborough Miners Welfare ClubMosborough, Sheffield, South Yorkshire5th
Nestle RowntreeMille CruxYork, North Yorkshire6th
Sheffield OaksParson Cross ParkParson Cross, Sheffield, South Yorkshire7th
Stanley RodilliansManley ParkStanley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire5th
StocksbridgeCoal Pit LaneStocksbridge, South Yorkshire2nd
York Railway InstituteNew LaneYork, North Yorkshire3rd

Premier and Shield divisions

Premier participants

  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Burley
  • Halifax
  • Leeds Modernians
  • Mosborough
  • Stanley Rodillians
  • Stocksbridge
  • York Railway Institute

Shield participants

  • Hessle
  • Knaresborough
  • Leeds Medics & Dentists
  • Nestle Rowntree
  • Sheffield Oaks
  • Thirsk

Participating clubs 2018-19

North West division

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bramley PhoenixGrosmont TerraceBramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire1st
BurleyAbbeyLeeds, West Yorkshire5th
Leeds Medics & DentistsWeetwood Playing FieldsWeetwood, Leeds, West YorkshireRelegated from Yorkshire 3
HalifaxOvenden ParkHalifax, West Yorkshire4th
KnaresboroughHay-A-Park LaneKnaresborough, North Yorkshire4th
ThirskThirsk Athletic ClubThirsk, North YorkshireRunners up
WibseyNorthfield RoadWibsey, Bradford, West Yorkshire7th

South East division

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
HessleLivingstone RoadHessle, East Riding of Yorkshire3rd
MosboroughMosborough Miners Welfare ClubMosborough, Sheffield, South Yorkshire3rd
Nestle RowntreeMille CruxYork, North YorkshireJoined from Yorkshire Merit Leagues
OssettOssett Cricket and Athletic ClubOssett, West Yorkshire6th
Sheffield OaksParson Cross ParkParson Cross, Sheffield, South Yorkshire6th
Stanley RodilliansManley ParkStanley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire8th
StocksbridgeCoal Pit LaneStocksbridge, South YorkshireRelegated from Yorkshire 3
York Railway InstituteNew LaneYork, North Yorkshire5th

Premier and Shield divisions

Premier participants

  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Hessle
  • Knaresborough
  • Leeds Medics & Dentisists
  • Mosborough
  • Ossett
  • Wibsey
  • York Railway Institute

Shield participants

  • Burley
  • Halifax
  • Nestle Rowntree
  • Sheffield Oaks
  • Stanley Rodilians
  • Stocksbridge
  • Thirsk

Participating clubs 2017-18

North West division

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bramley PhoenixGrosmont TerraceBramley, Leeds, West YorkshireTransferred from Yorkshire 4
BurleyAbbeyLeeds, West YorkshireTransferred from Yorkshire 4
HalifaxOvenden ParkHalifax, West YorkshireRelegated from Yorkshire 3
KnaresboroughHay-A-Park LaneKnaresborough, North YorkshireTransferred from Yorkshire 5
Leeds CorinthiansNutty SlackMiddleton, Leeds, West YorkshireTransferred from Yorkshire 4
ThirskThirsk Athletic ClubThirsk, North YorkshireTransferred from Yorkshire 5
WibseyNorthfield RoadWibsey, Bradford, West YorkshireTransferred from Yorkshire 5

South East division

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
HessleLivingstone RoadHessle, East Riding of YorkshireTransferred from Yorkshire 4
MosboroughMosborough Miners Welfare ClubMosborough, Sheffield, South YorkshireTransferred from Yorkshire 5
OssettOssett Cricket and Athletic ClubOssett, West YorkshireTransferred from Yorkshire 4
Sheffield OaksParson Cross ParkParson Cross, Sheffield, South YorkshireTransferred from Yorkshire 5
Stanley RodilliansManley ParkStanley, Wakefield, West YorkshireTransferred from Yorkshire 4
Rossington HornetsRossington Miners Welfare ClubRossington, South YorkshireTransferred from Yorkshire 5
Rotherham PhoenixHerringthorpe Playing FieldsClifton, Rotherham, South YorkshireTransferred from Yorkshire 4
York Railway InstituteNew LaneYork, North YorkshireTransferred from Yorkshire 4

Premier and Shield divisions

In February, after the teams have played each other home and away, the clubs in both Yorkshire 4 leagues are reallocated into a Premier league and a Shield league for one further round of fixtures. The top four teams from each league play in the Premier and the other teams play in the Shield.

Premier participants

  • Burley
  • Knaresborough
  • Leeds Corinthians
  • Mosborough
  • Ossett
  • Rotherham Phoenix
  • Stanley Rodillians
  • Wibsey

Shield participants

Rossington Hornets did not participate in the Shield competition.

Participating clubs 2016-17

  • Bramley Phoenix '
  • Burley
  • Hemsworth
  • Hessle
  • Hornsea '
  • Leeds Corinthians
  • Ossett
  • Rotherham Clifton
  • Rotherham Phoenix '
  • Skipton
  • Stanley Rodillians '
  • York Railway Institute

Participating clubs 2015-16

  • Burley '
  • Halifax Vandals
  • Hemsworth '
  • Hessle '
  • Leeds Corinthians
  • Mosborough
  • Ossett
  • Rotherham Clifton '
  • Sheffield Oaks
  • Skipton
  • Wensleydale
  • York Railway Institute

Participating clubs 2014-15

  • Halifax
  • Halifax Vandals
  • Hornsea
  • Knaresborough '
  • Leeds Corinthians
  • Mosborough
  • Ossett
  • Sheffield Oaks
  • Skipton '
  • Wensleydale
  • Wetherby
  • York Railway Institute

Participating clubs 2013-14

  • Halifax
  • Halifax Vandals
  • Hessle '
  • Hornsea
  • Leeds Corinthians
  • Mosborough
  • Old Otliensians
  • Ossett
  • Sheffield Oaks '
  • Stocksbridge
  • Wetherby
  • York Railway Institute ''''''

Participating clubs 2012–13

  • Halifax
  • Halifax Vandals
  • Harrogate Pythons
  • Hornsea
  • Knaresborough
  • Leeds Corinthians
  • Marist
  • Mosborough
  • Old Grovians
  • Old Otliensians
  • Ossett
  • Wetherby

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
  • Burley
  • Dinnington
  • Hessle
  • Hullensians
  • Leeds YMCA
  • Old Modernians
  • Skipton
  • West Leeds
  • Wetherby
  • Wibsey
  • Yorkshire CW

Yorkshire 4

Yorkshire 4 (1987–1993)

The original Yorkshire 4 was a tier 12 league with promotion up to Yorkshire 3 and relegation down to Yorkshire 5.

Yorkshire 4 (1993–2000)

The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 4 dropped to become a tier 13 league. A further restructure at the end of the 1995–96 season, which included the cancellation of National 5 North and the addition of North East 3 at tier 9, saw Yorkshire 4 remain at tier 13.

Yorkshire 4 (2000–present)

Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999-2000 season saw the cancellation of North East 1, North East 2 and North East 3. This meant that Yorkshire 4 became a tier 10 league.

Number of league titles

  • Hessle
  • Hullensians
  • Old Rishworthians
  • Rotherham Phoenix
  • Stocksbridge
  • Wibsey
  • Aireborough
  • Barnsley
  • Bradford Salem
  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Halifax Vandals
  • Heath
  • Hemsworth
  • Knottingley
  • Leeds Medics & Dentists
  • Mosborough
  • Northallerton
  • Old Grovians
  • Old Modernians
  • Old Otliensians
  • Ossett
  • Phoenix Park
  • Roundhegians
  • Sheffield Medicals
  • Wath Upon Dearne
  • Wetherby
  • York Railway Institute
  • Hornsea RUFC
  • Dearne Valley